I'm not sure exactly what a Russian tank company is supposed to look like. It isn't a lot of platoons but I don't know if that is a problem. I'm excited to find out though, that looks like a lot of fun with all those tanks!

Infantry platoons are usually fairly inexpensive. For the price of a few tanks you should be able to afford some infantry support. Even adding tank riders could help you but a platoon or two of infantry would give you more versatility.

Don't know about soviets. Brits have both crocodiles and wasp carriers and Germans have them on half tracks. I would guess the soviets put then in an unarmoured truck of some sort. That or just give them to some poor foot slogger. I'll look into it.

I've seen quite a few straight tank lists online so I figure it's possible to win with just tanks. Having said that, like most games, if you're playing a theme or a one dimensional list that you'll crush some games and lose others. The "paper-scissors-rock" thing.

IS-2's have rear MG's which apparently help a lot with assaulting infantry and you'll want to soften your target before assaulting anyways. Recce is great for keeping the enemy honest also.

Go to the FoW forums and WWPD. Spend some time there as guys much more experienced than us can help. Plus, you can take a look at some Tankovy lists and get the advice already posted for others....

Haha, at least now you're asking the smarter questions Sean. As Don says, you are probably asking the wrong people as most of us are in the same boat as you and know nothing about Flames of War. Don and I know just enough to give terrible advice.

I think you can add smg-armed tank riders to your tank platoons which apparently help in assaults. It would also give you some infantry without having to add infantry platoons. As far as I can tell, Soviets only get infantry flame-thrower teams so no vehicles with flamethrowers.

They might be able to ride on your tanks too though? i have no idea.

What list are you using on Forces of War? I'll check it out and then I can maybe give you more informed advice. If Don gets too annoyed with the questions we can always move it to PM.

You get less tanks and the quality of your tanks is also diminished but you get a shit-ton of close-range infantry which are perfect for assaulting. I still know nothing about the Soviets but I think this list at least addresses the fact that sometimes you are going to end up fighting against infantry.

The tank destruction companies have AT11 and 3 shots each making them the equivalent of the British 6pdr guns which are excellent. You don't have anything that'll punch through the really heavy armour though so you'd have to be crafty and try for some side armour shots. You've got lots of infantry for assaults and 25 tanks.

Last edited by nathanr on Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:26 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : another list)

You get less tanks and the quality of your tanks is also diminished but you get a shit-ton of close-range infantry which are perfect for assaulting. I still know nothing about the Soviets but I think this list at least addresses the fact that sometimes you are going to end up fighting against infantry.

The tank destruction companies have AT11 and 3 shots each making them the equivalent of the British 6pdr guns which are excellent. You don't have anything that'll punch through the really heavy armour though so you'd have to be crafty and try for some side armour shots. You've got lots of infantry for assaults and 25 tanks.

Good day Sean,

One platoon I really think you require is an infiltration platoon. It allows you to move that platoon and an attached platoon/company 16" up closer to your opponent. Just an idea.

Ok on my phone so i cant respond comptely. Super thanks for the help and advice guys. But my main question is those lists all have infantry. Is there anyway to play but have ONLY tanks. And still be ok vs dug in? minimum all vehicles

You can probably do all tanks but I'd still add the tank escort teams on your medium tanks. It gives you a bit of additional help in assaults as your tanks will each get 2 assaulting attacks and the tank escorts can also help against infantry sneaking up on your tanks. They aren't infantry teams, they're just dudes that hang out on the back of your tanks and help out with some close-range shooting and assaulting.

Honestly, I don't think you'll have much trouble assaulting infantry with Soviet Tanks. The problem is usually that you are outnumbered with tanks vs infantry but if you have 8 tanks with riders you get 32 shots beforehand (so you'll likely pin down whatever you are planning to assault limiting their defensive fire) and then 16 attacks in the assault.

Even shooting dug in infantry with your tanks should work out fairly well for you. 16 shots with 3+ firepower should be able to take out a few teams per turn and certainly pin them down when you add in your machine guns.

Kal wrote:Ok on my phone so i cant respond comptely. Super thanks for the help and advice guys. But my main question is those lists all have infantry. Is there anyway to play but have ONLY tanks. And still be ok vs dug in? minimum all vehicles

Only tanks - hmmmm.... the only answer would be TE's on every tank. That way if your assault does not bounce you get max dice to remove said infantry. However, your tanks are very expensive points wise for doing that with 85s - 76s are okay and even lesser 'pointage' tanks would be ideal.

nathanr wrote:You can probably do all tanks but I'd still add the tank escort teams on your medium tanks. It gives you a bit of additional help in assaults as your tanks will each get 2 assaulting attacks and the tank escorts can also help against infantry sneaking up on your tanks. They aren't infantry teams, they're just dudes that hang out on the back of your tanks and help out with some close-range shooting and assaulting.

Honestly, I don't think you'll have much trouble assaulting infantry with Soviet Tanks. The problem is usually that you are outnumbered with tanks vs infantry but if you have 8 tanks with riders you get 32 shots beforehand (so you'll likely pin down whatever you are planning to assault limiting their defensive fire) and then 16 attacks in the assault.

Even shooting dug in infantry with your tanks should work out fairly well for you. 16 shots with 3+ firepower should be able to take out a few teams per turn and certainly pin them down when you add in your machine guns.

Agreed - sorry I missed this post as it echoes mine.My son, Levi, just ran a tankovy list in the last LW Tournament - he is heading back to his Strelkovy list. He had a total of 31 tanks including two Panthers & a Tiger. In LW there are just too many panzerfausts and AT guns = the bounce is going to happen.

I have to disagree only in that from what ive read they were not popular with the Russians. They were spitting out so many T-34's that were just a better combat tank. Just cuz the T-34's couldnt do any kind of road trip without breaking isnt as important as not dying whe. U get shot at plus they came up for a solution to the gear problems. They would just carry a spare transmission on the backs of their tanks haha. Plus i have no M3 figs and tons of T-34's im trying to use what i have for now.

Kal wrote:I have to disagree only in that from what ive read they were not popular with the Russians. They were spitting out so many T-34's that were just a better combat tank. Just cuz the T-34's couldnt do any kind of road trip without breaking isnt as important as not dying whe. U get shot at plus they came up for a solution to the gear problems. They would just carry a spare transmission on the backs of their tanks haha. Plus i have no M3 figs and tons of T-34's im trying to use what i have for now.